Programming with Robotics

Sometimes we can program, and it's not just about the website or the app!  As an addition to our Hour of Code, another activity we worked on was collaborating to make robot follow our directions.  Here we are using Valiant Technologies Roamer Too with the Early Years accessory.  The Early Years accessory is the piece on top that allows the roamer to go forward, backward, and make 90 degree angle turns to the right and left. 

First, we let the students explore to learn how to use the buttons and experience how the Roamer moves around when given commands.  There was much laughter, smiles, and cheering.  The students love the fact that Roamer will sometime talk to them to say what is going to happen.

Once the students had a little bit of hands on time with the robot, we then ask the students to travel through a terrible snow storm, pick up holiday gifts, dark woods, to finally arrive at the Gingerbread Man's house.

There was a lot of collaboration as to where exactly the Roamer should go and which way to turn.  It required communication on all team members' parts to arrive at the final destination.  Everyone was fully engaged and were not ready to move on to another activity.  In fact, at one point a Kindergarten group was working in the library when a 3rd grade class came by and noticed what was happening.  The 3rd graders insisted they try the same activity the next day.  Engaging, problem-solving by all ages!

Coding? How do we learn to code in the classroom?

Teaching Kindergarteners through 5th graders to code might seem like a daunting task, but with so many resources available it is actually pretty easy...and fun!

The main resources I like to share with teachers is code.org.  What an amazing progression of lessons for students to learn actual vocabulary for coders while "playing" games.  There are currently 3 levels of lessons for young students to use to build the coding skills.  The levels start with pre-readers and work all the way through for upper elementary students.

If you want to focus on only one hour, code.org also has shorter lessons to peak students' interest in the Learn portion of the website.  One of the popular items is coding with Anna and Elsa!

But, do not underestimate the power of the unplugged activities provided on the site!

Another resource we used during our Hour of Code week came from Made with Code.  

All of our students spent time using Beats during their music class.  And, several classes work on giving directions to Yetie, a monster who can dance!

These are all great web based options for coding.  Next up, apps for coding with the iPad!

Our Hour of Code

Hour of Code is held in December as part of Computer Science Education Week.  Did you know Computer Science Education Week is always held to commemorate Rear Admiral Grace M. Hopper, USN, Ph.D.  "Amazing Grace" was born on December 9, 1906.  Click here to find out why she has an important part in the history of Computer Science.

This is the 2nd year for our district to participate in Hour of Code.  During this week we want students to experience the power of computer science, at any age!  It is important for students to understand coding opens opportunities to change lives.  I think part of the mystery of coding is that it's a bunch of people staring at a computer screen all day.  In reality, coders are collaborators and problem solvers!  The message in this following video really explains it well.

With this being our 2nd time to participate it was important to me to show real life examples of how coding is used in many different industries.  I found different video clips to share with students during our morning announcement broadcasts.  The first video was important to me because these are real life examples of females using computer science skills in some unlikely places:

When sharing with students, I want to try to reach every child I can and that is why I selected this video also.

Another awesome opportunity put together by our district Digital Coaches was to give students the opportunity to talk directly to computer programmers.  What better way to learn than from a real, live expert!  Here is a Kindergarten class talking with a Google Analytics Engineer.  What an interesting conversation!

We are truly honored to have had the resources to talk with individuals using their coding skills!  More about the resources students used during our Hour of Code will come in a future post!